Dubai: Eleven years ago Mubtaker was narrowly denied victory in the €5 million (Dh23 million) Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Europe’s most prestigious flat race, when he was beaten three quarters of a length by the favourite Dalakhani in a nearve-wracking finish on Longchamp’s hallowed course.

The wait is over. On Sunday, Taghrooda has the chance to make amends for that loss and gift owner Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, a long-overdue first success in the historic race.

One of five outstanding three-year-old fillies in the 20-runner event, she must overcome a poor draw (stall 15) if she hopes to become the sixth of her breed to win the 2,400-metre contest in the last 20 years. The others being Urban Sea, Zarkava, Danedream, Solemia and Treve, who triumphed last year.

Paul Hanagan, who rode Taghrooda to victory in the Epsom Oaks (G1) and King George (G1) this season, said he was relishing the prospect of riding trainer John Gosden’s stable star in the Longchamp showpiece,

“I’m looking forward to it massively, this is what we’ve been working for,” the renowned workaholic and tw-time British champion jockey told Channel 4 Racing. “It’s a huge kick to be aboard one of the favourite in such a historic race.

“She goes in with good form and the draw is not the end of the world.

“I’m hoping she’ll run a big race.”

Earlier Hanagan hit out at critics who arguded that he was short of big-race expertise when he told the Yorkshire Post: “People are saying I don’t have the experience of riding at Longchamp,” the 34-year-old said.

“I keep telling them I had first ride in the Oaks on Taghrooda and she won, I had my first ride in the King George on her and we won and now I’m having my first ride in the Arc. Hopefully she can keep the winning thread going.”

The daughter of 2009 Arc scorer Sea The Stars, brings sparkling credentials to the Longchamp showpiece where she also enjoys a significant weight concession because of her age and sex.

Trained at Newmarket, England by the legendary John Gosden, Taghrooda also faces several English hopefuls including multiple Group One winner Al Kazeem and St. Leger (G1) hero Kingston Hill who will bid to become the first horse to add the Longchamp trophy to the one he picked up at Doncaster in the same season.

Irish maestro Aidan O’Brien, who is seeking a second Arc victory after Dylan Thomas in 2007, saddles 2013 Epsom Derby (G1) hero Ruler Of The World, Irish Oaks (G1) sensation Chicquita and Yorkshire Oaks (G1) winner Tapestry who was supplemented to the race at a whopping cost of €120,000.

The French have saddles 66 winners of the Arc and their 2014 challenge is headed by defending champion Treve while William Buick has an interesting call-up in the Germany-trained Ivanhowe, a resounding winner of the Grosser Preis Von Baden (G1) at Baden-baden last month.

Andre Fabre already holds the record as the trainer with most wins and is seeking his eighth win with Flintshire who finished eighth behind Treve 12 months ago.

Meanwhile, Japanese horses have come very close to winning in the past and are represented by a heavy-weight team of Harp Star, Gold Ship and Dubai Duty Free (G1) marvel Just A Way.